During the past eight years, government officials in Tehran have been devoting more budget space to works of public art. The increased spending has encouraged local artists, such as Mehdi Ghadyanloo, to spruce up the somewhat bleak cityscape with lively murals. Some façades are painted to blend into the surrounding environment, creating quirky optical illusions, while others are turned into futuristic fantasy worlds or strange alternate realities. Ghadyanloo has singlehandedly contributed over 100 murals to the Iranian streets, and has become known for the dreamy quality of his work.